Solutions

Wind power's health debate rages.

Two University of Western Ontario academics are clashing over wind farms and their link to health, each accusing the other's followers of demonizing their cause and bastardizing science. Toronto Sun

'Clunkers' was a wash.

Paying people $4,000 to trade in old cars for new ones didn't bring new buyers into the market, according to a new study. But it encouraged people who would have bought a car anyway to make their purchase a few months sooner. Morning Edition

Politics

For borough mayor, white roofs are a no-brainer.

The mayor of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie hopes a new bylaw requiring white roofs on homes and commercial buildings will make his the coolest borough in Montreal, literally. Montreal Gazette

Alex Salmond says renewables will help beat the recession.

Investment in renewable energy and low-carbon projects will help Scotland get out of the economic downturn, First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed, adding that "Global climate change is the most pressing issue of our generation." Edinburgh Scotsman

Other News

Editorials

Face facts: Climate change is unfolding as predicted.

The wildfires in Russia, the floods in Pakistan and the record heat this summer in New Jersey have one thing in common: They are exactly the kind of symptoms scientists predicted we’d experience as global warming occurs. Newark Star-Ledger

The EPA's new gas-mileage labels are good but not perfect.

The EPA is asking for comments on its proposed new gas mileage stickers for automobiles -- so here's ours. On the whole, both of the agency's two suggested alternative stickers represent much-needed improvement over current fuel-economy labeling. Washington Post

Climate-change assessment: Must try harder.

Whoever leads the IPCC, the governments - and, indeed, Mr Ban - should make sure that there is a well-thought-out structure, and perhaps some expert special advisers, put in place in order to see to it that change happens. Economist

Opinion

How pesticides can be safe for bees and frogs, and still kill them.

The agricultural herbicide atrazine, a chemical that inhibits weeds from growing in crop fields, was washing out of farm fields, flowing into groundwater and draining into the ponds the frogs were disappearing from. But earlier tests had shown that atrazine didn't affect frogs. Daily Green

No need to be afraid of a tax on carbon.

The most significant policy issue in the deal struck between the Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party was that of climate policy. Sydney Morning Herald

Time to get tough, environmentalists say.

Has the environmental movement lost its mojo? The election of President Obama two years ago was supposed to be a turning point, when Congress and the White House would finally act on climate change legislation. But that didn't happen. Why is that? National Public Radio

All consuming.

With population and per-capita consumption both on the rise, it's hard to believe humanity's impact on the Earth is sustainable. But what would happen if we ate less meat? Or gave women better education and more power? Seed Magazine

Bid to suspend California global-warming law gets $1 million from billionaire brothers' firm.

The fight over a November ballot initiative to suspend California's global warming law has escalated sharply with the Koch brothers, oil billionaires and "tea party" backers, making a million-dollar entry into the fray. Los Angeles Times

Amazon may be headed for another bad drought.

Drought has cut Peru's Amazon River to its lowest level in 40 years and it is already below the minimum set in 2005, when a devastating dry spell damaged vast swaths of South American rainforest in the worst drought in decades. Reuters

Shipping companies eye fabled Asia route as ice melts.

Shipowners are showing growing interest in a fabled trade route to Asia which climate change is beginning to open up at last, as polar ice recedes. Agence France-Presse

U.N. predicts bigger swings in food supply.

A U.N. agency says the 2010 global wheat harvest is one of the largest ever but experts say a less stable climate will mean bigger food supply fluctuations. United Press International

Greater clarity on climate finance at 46-nation forum.

Forty-six countries gained a clearer view on Friday of what it may take to secure a deal worth hundreds of billions of dollars in climate aid, an issue that threatens hopes for a treaty on global warming. Agence France-Presse

What lies beneath Antarctic ice.

Rodolfo del Valle and his team are heading to the Southern Ocean to measure a methane leak. Nature

Gas cars could get 74 m.p.g. by 2035, researcher says.

A new report from a University of Michigan researcher estimates that, even without going electric, U.S. cars and trucks could achieve an average efficiency of 74 miles per gallon by 2035. New York Times

Fiorina announces support for Proposition 23 to roll back state's global warming law.

One of the more memorable exchanges in Wednesday night's debate between Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Republican challenger Carly Fiorina was Fiorina's refusal to take a position on Proposition 23. Los Angeles Times

Sugarcane's electrical potential goes to waste.

Sugarcane could replace the energy produced by three hydroelectric dams like the Belo Monte in the Amazon, claims the Brazilian sugarcane industry, which remains relegated to marginal participation in the national electricity matrix. Inter Press Service


Inside TDC
Fast Company 04 Sep

Norway exploits carbon capture lead.

Statoil turns an eco imperative into a lucrative commercial opportunity.


Saturday, September 4 2010

Top Consequences

Amazon may be headed for another bad drought.

Drought has cut Peru's Amazon River to its lowest level in 40 years and it is already below the minimum set in 2005, when a devastating dry spell damaged vast swaths of South American rainforest in the worst drought in decades. Reuters

Shipping companies eye fabled Asia route as ice melts.

Shipowners are showing growing interest in a fabled trade route to Asia which climate change is beginning to open up at last, as polar ice recedes. Agence France-Presse

U.N. predicts bigger swings in food supply.

A U.N. agency says the 2010 global wheat harvest is one of the largest ever but experts say a less stable climate will mean bigger food supply fluctuations. United Press International

Top Solutions

All consuming.

With population and per-capita consumption both on the rise, it's hard to believe humanity's impact on the Earth is sustainable. But what would happen if we ate less meat? Or gave women better education and more power? Seed Magazine

Gas cars could get 74 m.p.g. by 2035, researcher says.

A new report from a University of Michigan researcher estimates that, even without going electric, U.S. cars and trucks could achieve an average efficiency of 74 miles per gallon by 2035. New York Times

Sugarcane's electrical potential goes to waste.

Sugarcane could replace the energy produced by three hydroelectric dams like the Belo Monte in the Amazon, claims the Brazilian sugarcane industry, which remains relegated to marginal participation in the national electricity matrix. Inter Press Service

Top Causes

All consuming.

With population and per-capita consumption both on the rise, it's hard to believe humanity's impact on the Earth is sustainable. But what would happen if we ate less meat? Or gave women better education and more power? Seed Magazine

What lies beneath Antarctic ice.

Rodolfo del Valle and his team are heading to the Southern Ocean to measure a methane leak. Nature

Belching sheep.

Sheep burps produce methane - a gas that contributes to climate change. Now researchers are suggesting a novel solution to minimize the greenhouse gas: seasoning the sheeps’ food. Living On Earth

Top Politics

Bid to suspend California global-warming law gets $1 million from billionaire brothers' firm.

The fight over a November ballot initiative to suspend California's global warming law has escalated sharply with the Koch brothers, oil billionaires and "tea party" backers, making a million-dollar entry into the fray. Los Angeles Times

Greater clarity on climate finance at 46-nation forum.

Forty-six countries gained a clearer view on Friday of what it may take to secure a deal worth hundreds of billions of dollars in climate aid, an issue that threatens hopes for a treaty on global warming. Agence France-Presse

Fiorina announces support for Proposition 23 to roll back state's global warming law.

One of the more memorable exchanges in Wednesday night's debate between Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Republican challenger Carly Fiorina was Fiorina's refusal to take a position on Proposition 23. Los Angeles Times

From the Daily Climate Newsroom

Climate Clippings - The Brazos, weatherization, and disagreeing over agreeing.

23 August 2010
Climate Clippings - The Brazos, weatherization, and disagreeing over agreeing.

Daily Climate's weekly compilation of news tidbits. This week: Lost love - er, carbon - on the Brazos; $120 million for weatherization efforts; and two books look why consensus on climate policy is so elusive. more

Americans' sense of energy savings? Small change.

17 August 2010

Quick – what's the most effective way for you to save energy? If you're like many Americans, you'd say turn out the lights or turn up the AC's thermostat. And, like many Americans, you'd miss the mark. more

Climate Clippings - Tropical ice, fuel cells, and a new chair.

16 August 2010

Daily Climate's weekly compilation of climate snippets: Disappearing ice in the tropics; power from water and air; a battery break-through; and an invisible, immaterial chair. more

Climate Clippings - Cell phones, farmers and Hawaiian surf.

9 August 2010

Daily Climate's weekly compilation of climate tidbits: Spreading climate news in rural countries, a new approach to large-scale ag investments, and Hawaii's offshore power potential. more

Climate Clippings: Ice fields, ENSO trouble and high fashion.

3 August 2010

Today TDC launches weekly feature offering snippets of new and noteworthy developments. This week: A truly "emerging" field, a dispute over El Niño data, and an attempt to marry solar energy and haute couture. more